Cost and Quality

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Can Apps Slay The Medical Bill Dragon?

KFF Health News Original

A handful of Silicon Valley start-ups are trying to usher medical billing into the 21st century by creating smartphone apps to help consumers navigate their health insurance paperwork.

Pressure Builds To Cut Medicare Patients In On Prescription Deals

KFF Health News Original

Medicare officials have been discussing a rule change that would give beneficiaries a share of the secretive fees and discounts that are negotiated for prescription drugs.

Study Gives Mixed Reviews On Laws To Equalize Cancer Patients’ Out-Of-Pocket Costs

KFF Health News Original

Most states have laws that require that cancer patients who get their treatment orally rather than by infusion in a doctor’s office not pay more out-of-pocket. A new study finds that the impact of those laws is mixed.

Maine Voters Greenlight Medicaid Expansion, But Governor Says Whoa

KFF Health News Original

A battle brews as Republican Gov. Paul LePage says he won’t implement the Medicaid expansion unless the Legislature funds Maine’s share. Other states, such as Idaho and Utah, are keenly watching.

Una tendencia que crece, adultos mayores que viven en comunidad

KFF Health News Original

La llamada covivienda está comenzando a ser popular entre los adultos mayores, como una alternativa al aislamiento social. Son hogares que se construyen alrededor de áreas para uso colectivo.

Liquid Gold: Pain Doctors Soak Up Profits By Screening Urine For Drugs

KFF Health News Original

With the nation’s opioid crisis, urine testing has become a booming business and is especially lucrative for doctors who operate their own labs, a Kaiser Health News investigation finds. And dozens of practitioners have earned “the lion’s share” of their Medicare income exclusively from urine drug screens.

Enriched By The Poor: California Health Insurers Make Billions Through Medicaid

KFF Health News Original

Medicaid is rarely associated with getting rich. But some insurance companies are reaping spectacular profits off the taxpayer-funded program in California, even when the state finds their patient care is subpar.

Health Companies Race To Catch UnitedHealth As Amazon Laces Up

KFF Health News Original

UnitedHealth, a health industry goliath, has its hand in doctors’ offices, surgery centers, technology services and prescription drugs. It is the industry model, and CVS and Aetna, says one expert, are ‘wannabes.’

Funding For ACA Sign-Up Campaigns Varies Widely From State To State

KFF Health News Original

States aren’t getting nearly as much federal money this year to explain and campaign for Affordable Care Act policies. Some are trying to make up the shortfall; others lack the cash or political will.